Maryland Food Bank kicks off Hunger Action Month

Yvonne Wenger, The Baltimore Sun

The Maryland Food Bank will be joined over the next month by the State Police and the Baltimore Ravens for a communitywide drive to collect food and raise awareness for local families that risk going hungry.

The food bank reports that nearly 780,000 Marylanders experience so-called "food insecurity," meaning they don't know if they'll be able to access food for nutritious diet. Other partners joining in the effort —which includes food banks across the country for Hunger Action Month — are the state Department of Transportation, Charm City Run and Giant Food.

"The face of hunger is changing and includes working Americans who don't know where their next meal will come from," Deborah Flateman, president of the food bank, said in a statement. "This month in particular, we're encouraging people to 'be a voice' for this serious issue that affects one in seven Marylanders."

The Ravens will host food bank volunteers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 28 at M&T Bank Stadium for a collection before the match-up with the Carolina Panthers. Donations of items such as peanut butter, tuna fish, cereal and canned fruits and vegetables are requested.

In addition to the donation drive, Charm City Run is organizing a community run against hungry from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at each of its five locations. Supporters are asked to wear orange for the run in a show of solidarity and post photos on social media using #BeAVoiceMFB. The food bank also will receive a percentage of all orange items sold by the stores.

A symposium will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 19 at Martin's West in Windsor Mill that includes panel discussions, live polling, a question and answer period and the Hunger Advocacy Awards Luncheon.